Patents by Inventor Walter F. Albers
Walter F. Albers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20100175394Abstract: The present invention provides a process for utilizing waste heat released by condensers of conventional air conditioning systems and more particularly using this low grade heat or other low grade sources that are slightly above ambient air temperatures to alter concentration of a liquid desiccant that contacts an ambient air stream thereby reducing its relative humidity while its temperature is controlled and generally reduced by heat exchange with another air stream that is saturated with water.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventor: WALTER F. ALBERS
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Patent number: 7721460Abstract: A carrier supports property-transferring material and includes a first portion exposed to a first property and a second portion exposed to a second property. The first property is different from the second property causing the property-transferring material to develop micro-cyclic property transfer between the first and second properties. The first and second properties each include at least one of heat and mass.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventors: Walter F. Albers, Yijun Yuan
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Publication number: 20090314624Abstract: A new distillation process of simultaneous evaporation and condensation distillation that enables efficient transfer of heat energy and allows binary fluids to attain different concentrations and temperatures in the stripper and rectifier stages is disclosed. The process utilizes preferential evaporation of the more volatile component in the stripper while in the rectifier the less volatile component condenses first allowing for concentration of the more volatile component in subsequent stages. The rectifier operates at correspondingly hotter temperatures than the stripper allowing energy transfer from the rectifier to the stripper.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventor: WALTER F. ALBERS
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Patent number: 5146978Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer is described that is applicable to: regeneration of liquid desiccant solutions, heat pumping of humid gases, cooling and dehumidifying of gases for air conditioning, and water absorption from air. Generally, using a moving gas, at a constant pressure, a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium is created between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid desiccant temperatures within an energy transferring chamber. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from the moving gas. A forced temperature differential between heat sinks and sources causes heat transferred by means of thermally conductive barriers. Concurrent with temperature variances, the segmented wetting further allows liquid desiccant concentrations caused by evaporation or condensation, to vary between wetted sectors.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1990Date of Patent: September 15, 1992Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 5123481Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer are described using a moving gas, such as air at a constant and atmospheric pressure, to provide a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within energy transferring chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from a first substance in a first chamber and a second substance in a second chamber. A forced temperature differential in each chamber causes heat transfer between chambers by means of thermally conductive petitions and by means of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger provides for heat transfer between the first and the second substances of corresponding sectors of the first and second chambers. This heat transfer can allow condensation causing further evaporation in the corresponding chamber sector resulting in recycling of energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1991Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 5097668Abstract: A method and apparatus for regenerating aqueous desiccants used in liquid desiccant air conditioners is disclosed. The method and apparatus utilizes a desiccant boiler and a desiccant evaporator/steam condenser in combination with heat exchangers. The evaporator/condenser receives steam produced by the boiler to provide a reuse of heat for regeneration. The boiler and the evaporator/condenser each can provide substantially complete regeneration of a portion of the liquid desiccant.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 5020588Abstract: Method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer are described that is applicable to: concentration, crystallization, purification, fractionation, stripping, absorption, and/or heat exchange for liquid media; and temperature and humidity modification for gas media. Using a plurality of moving gas streams, comprised for example of air, at constant and generally atmospheric pressures, a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium of the gas streams is created between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within each of a plurality of heat exchange chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and out of the gas streams. A forced temperature differential between chambers, caused by different temperatures of the gas streams entering the chambers or by humidity modification of these gas streams within chambers, causes heat transfer between chambers through thermally conductive partitions.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1989Date of Patent: June 4, 1991Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 5020335Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer is described that is applicable to: concentration, crystallization, purification, fractionation, stripping, absorption, and/or heat exchange for liquid media; drying for solid or gel media; and temperature and humidity modification for gas media. Generally, using a moving gas, such as air at a constant and atmospheric pressure, a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium is created between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within energy transferring chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from the moving gas. A forced temperature differential in each chamber causes heat transfer between chambers by means of thermally conductive partitons. This transfer can allow condensation causing further evaporation in the opposite chamber resulting in a recycling of energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1989Date of Patent: June 4, 1991Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 4982782Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer is described that is applicable to: concentration, crystallization, purification, fractionation, stripping, absorption, and/or heat exchange for liquid media; drying for solid or gel media; and temperature and humidity modification for gas media. Generally, using a moving gas, such as air at a constant and atmospheric pressure, a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium is created between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within energy transferring chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from the moving gas. A forced temperature differential in each chamber causes heat transfer between chambers by means of thermally conductive partitions. This transfer can allow condensation causing further evaporation in the opposite chamber resulting in a recycling of energy.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1989Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman
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Patent number: 4967829Abstract: On a surface on which heat is exchanged with a gas media, the heat transfer coefficient can be enhanced by directing a spray at the surface. The spray droplets can disrupt the stagnant air layer adjacent to the exchange surface, can increase the area for heat and mass transfer and can aid in carrying vapor from the gas media to the exchange surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1987Date of Patent: November 6, 1990Assignee: Walter F. AlbersInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman, Frank R. Myers
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Patent number: 4832115Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer is described that is applicable to: concentration, crystallization, purification, fractionation, stripping, absorption, and/or heat exchange for liquid media; drying for solid or gel media; and temperature and humidity modification for gas media. Generally, using a moving gas, such as air at a constant and atmospheric pressure, a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium is created between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within energy transferring chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from the moving gas. A forced temperature differential in each chamber causes heat transfer between chambers by means of thermally conductive partitions. This transfer can allow condensation causing further evaporation in the opposite chamber resulting in a recycling of energy.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1986Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Albers Technologies CorporationInventors: Walter F. Albers, James R. Beckman